Top 10: Forgotten Sony Franchises

Gaming’s past is full of wonderful memories, many of which include some of our favorite moments in all of video games and helped shape our current gaming habits. And, thanks to the awesomeness that is the PlayStation, many of these memories can be found in Sony’s franchises. But what happens when a great franchise or IP just disappears? While sometimes its just forgotten, never to be heard from again that’s not something that we here at Link-Cable can bear the thought of. So for this week’s Top 10 we are taking a look at the Top 10 Forgotten Sony Franchises and also crossing our fingers that someone with the power to bring these back just happens to stumble across this list.

10 – MotorStorm

Kicking off this list is a series that technically hasn’t been out of our lives for that long (last release was in 2012) but its absence feels very pronounced. the MotorStorm series has always been about one thing and one thing only, getting your wheels dirty in some off-road racing action. Sadly the series’ long time developer was closed after the release of MotorStorm: RC but Sony has held onto the brand name, so there’s hope yet that we’ll be getting behind the wheel again.

9 – WarHawk

What the heck happened to good flight combat games?! The genre was a big deal back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s but has since seemingly fallen out of favor with gamers. Well if we ever get a new WarHawk game (one that doesn’t use motion controls…) that might start to change. With solid controls, great graphics (even back on the PlayStation) and just rock solid multiplayer this is one we really want to see come back.

And no, StarHawk doesn’t count.

8 – LocoRoco

I know, I know. We just got a remasters of the first two games of the series recently so it’s not technically forgotten but we haven’t gotten anything specifically new from the series since 2007 over on the PlayStation Portable so its high time we got some new LocoRoco in our lives. The game would be particularly great with either motion controls or the PS4’s touch panel so Sony… get on that!

7 – Heavenly Sword

Of the PlayStation 3’s early successes one of the best games the system received was the excellent Heavenly Sword. Nariko’s quest to destroy evil was one of the ‘freshest’ hack & slash games out at the time and preceded games like Bayonetta in the 3D action genre. For such a hit game and a game that was so important to the PlayStation 3 its a wonder why we never got a sequel.

6 – Jeanne d’Arc

Take some strategy gameplay, add in some historical background and sprinkle in some pretty visuals and you’ll have yourself Jeanne d’Arc, one of the most beloved yet overlooked PSP games ever made. Essentially Sony’s answer to the Fire Emblem series, Jeanne d’Arc may have taken some artistic liberties with the story and setting but the gameplay was practically just as good as Nintendo’s series. Sadly, unlike that franchise we’ve only gotten one game in the series but would gladly take a trip back in time for this one.

5 – Tomba!

Sony consoles & systems have never really been known for platformers (that’s really Nintendo & Sega’s thing) but the original PlayStation did have one ace up its sleeve. Tomba! was a little bit Mario, a little bit Castlevania and a whole lot of fun. It’s also one of those games that never particularly found an audience when it originally release but has since developed a rather dedicated fanbase. While it may seem like a long shot at this point, it would be great to get more Tomba! soon.

4 – SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs

The SOCOM series may have been the victim of franchise fatigue with 10 major titles releases in just nine years on the PS2, PSP and PS3 but it’s still sad to see a series that had such a solid reputation basically disappear. And its a real shame too since tactical shooters have seen a resurgence of late thanks to the emerging eSports scene and the success of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege. So would SOCOM 5 have a place in this brave new world of shooters? Absolutely! Sign us up!

3 – Ape Escape

It’s a bunch of apes… escaping! Of course it would be great to bring back! The Ape Escape series is one of those franchises that might not seem like much at first glance but after playing it for just a little bit you fall in love. And while we have gotten new Ape Escape games recently, they were mostly relegated to PS Move and Vita side-games and, frankly weren’t as fun as the originals. Release the apes Sony!

2 – Arc the Lad

Like Jeanne d’Arc a few spots up on this list, the Arc the Lad series was basically Sony’s take on the tactical RPG genre ala Final Fantasy Tactics and has been out of lives for FAR too long. With a deep story, interesting characters and unique spins on the traditional tactical RPG formula, the Arc the Lad games are often nothing more than a distant memory for all but the most diehard Sony fans. You know, while I would love a new Jeanne d’Arc, I personally would prefer we get a brand new Arc the Land game instead (if we can only get one tactical RPG game).

1 – Syphon Filter

While I would absolutely love a new game in every single one of these series’ to make an appearance I would trade them all for a new Syphon Filter game. The series was Splinter Cell before Sam Fisher was even a thing and merged stealth action and tactics so fluidly and seamlessly that the game could practically be described as standard setting. A great story, fantastic gameplay and intense, real world setting – all things that make a great game series and the one we most want to see Sony remember.

What Sony franchises do you want to see make a return? Let us know in the comment section below!

About The Author

A pretty cool guy (well at least I think so) with over 8 years experience in the video game industry as a writer, editor, site manager and put'er-together'er of words.
Email me at alex.stamour@link-cable.com